Inside the limousine…
“Shen Yi…”
“Are you afraid? Don’t be. We both know this would happen sooner or later. People will always say something about us whether we like it or not,” Shen Yi saw through Lu Xinyi’s worries and patted her head.
“What’s the point of worrying about them? You married the best man in town. Of course, they’re angry at you,” Shen Yi joked, trying to lighten up her mood.
Lu Xinyi let out a laugh. She deeply appreciated that Shen Yi chose to stand with her at times like this.
“President Shen is being good to me. You’re not treating me like your dirty little secret, eh? I bet they don’t know how amazing you could be,” she teased. Her hand was placed on his cheeks, causing his gaze to drop on her face.
“Am I not? My business partners will laugh at you if you dare to say those words.” Shen Yi pulled her to his side and kissed her crown, not minding the scent of alcohol on her head.
Lu Xinyi relaxed in Shen Yi’s embrace. In his arms, she didn’t need to worry about the outside world.
“Women can be scary.” She sighed, remembering how the manager treated her as soon as the rumors between her and her husband filled the social media.
Shen Yi thought for a moment before nodding back. “You’re right. Women are like dolls. They could be beautiful and innocent like Barbie and ugly and horrifying as Annabelle at the same time.”
Lu Xinyi pushed herself away from him, staring at his face for a second before bursting to a round of laughter. She couldn’t stop herself as her eyes got teary and her sides hurt from laughing.
“What are you laughing at?” Shen Yi frowned.
“You!” Lu Xinyi exclaimed and continued to laugh carelessly.
Shen Yi stared at her and chuckled. He’d been arrogant, thinking that no woman could affect him after Li Qiao, that his way was set. He had forgotten how strong emotions could be and move someone.
Fortunately, he wasn’t a lost cause. He had not been too late as evidenced by the woman who was laughing her a.s.s off at his mere joke. He was fortunate to have a resilient wife that was willing to get into his skin to try to understand him.
“Stop laughing. I think you need something to tell me.” Shen Yi said, waiting for her to stop. He had to know what was bugging her lately.
He didn’t know what to make of her sudden change in mood. How could he possibly help her if she wasn’t telling him what’s going on?
Lu Xinyi calmed herself and sat properly. She could tell Shen Yi wanted to discuss something important. Staying calm and stable was a lot harder than it sounded in his presence. She could feel her heart throbbing inside her chest.
“Tell me why you have to go to the doctor the other day?”
Immediately, Lu Xinyi stiffened beside him. “It was nothing.”
“Xinxin,” Shen Yi said curtly, letting her know that he was in no mood for avoiding the topic they’d been ignoring for days. They were avoiding to discuss it, and the effect was starting to surface between them.
“It’s true. I was nothing.” His wife snapped back, and then her gaze fell on her feet as if it was more interesting than anything.
Shen Yi took in her sullen expression. He scooted closer, making their arms touched.
“Xinxin,” he whispered to her ear, “You know you can tell me anything, right?” His tone was gentler this time, hoping that she would relax.
Lu Xinyi swallowed the lump in her throat, afraid that Shen Yi might think she was stupid; but when his fingers gently ran on her tresses, she felt herself waver. She looked up at his face, seeing the tired circles on his eyes. His expression with concern as he waited for her.
He’d been with her since the start of the entrance exams. Shen Yi was by her side when she came to Grace Palace and competed at the festival too soon for her liking. Her eyes darted back at the pile of doc.u.ments on his side, waiting to be reviewed and signed by him.
Lu Xinyi knew then that Shen Yi would sacrifice something for her sake. People claimed that her husband was cold, but someone cold would never leave his responsibilities just to make sure she was safe.
She turned her sight back at him, her eyes watery, as she tried to conceal her vulnerability in his presence. With a sob, she threw her arms around his shoulder and cried silently. Shen Yi was forced to sit back at the backseat of the limousine, surprised at his wife’s sudden outburst. His hand came up and ran on her small back as she continued to hide herself to the world.
“What’s wrong? Did someone threaten or harm you in any way?” Shen Yi asked worriedly. He was desperate to know what caused her tears.
Lu Xinyi shut her eyes and remembered why she was upset after her doctor’s appointment. Would it cause a rift between them if she couldn’t have a child? The thought made her gut twist painfully. She wanted to tell him everything, not daring to break his trust; but she was afraid.
Now that she was here in his arms—the man trying to understand her as she cried, Lu Xinyi chided herself. Shen Yi deserved to know.
“I thought I was pregnant,” she confessed. She felt him stiffen; his hand stopped abruptly so he could look at her face.